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Wednesday, 20 January 2010

In praise of Reedham Ferry

CHERISH Reedham Ferry. It's all too easy to take it for granted, especially as there's probably been a Yare crossing of some kind at this spot for centuries. But then, there had also been ferries across the Yare since time immemorial at Surlingham, Coldham Hall and the Beauchamp Arms. All have disappeared within living memory; accidental victims of better roads, better engines and a life lived less locally. So why did this one survive while the others withered? Both geography and luck have played their part. But you must also give credit to the Archer family which has owned the Reedham Ferry pub for more than sixty years. You'll have to wait until the book gets published for a profile of David Archer, but suffice to see the old girl is in very safe hands. I think we'll hear the clank, clank, clank of the ferry chains for many years to come.

* Reedham Ferry runs from 7.30am till 10pm between Monday and Friday and between 8am and 10pm at the weekends.

The Book

The Blog

The blog started as a way of publicising Steve's book on the Wherryman's Way which was published by Halsgrove in 2010. Then it became a way of updating Wherryman's Way walkers. More recently it has spread its wings to the wider Broads. Around 1000 people take a look every month. Steve is now writing a second book provisionally called Riverside Norwich. You can follow his progress on that project here.

The Walk

The Wherryman's Way runs for 35 miles between Norwich and Great Yarmouth, following the route the wherries used to take along the rivers Wensum and Yare. Six years ago I was sitting in the White Horse, Chedgrave wondering why no-one had written a book about it. A few pints later my mates had convinced me I was the man. It was published in May 2010.

Footpath Closures:

Work repairing flood defences means sections of the walk can be closed for months at a time. Get the latest info here.